Second day of Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix took place under the thick and grey clouds. It rain-flagged with 18 minutes left in the Qualifying session and 8 minutes later all riders forced pit-in. The rain didn’t stop and all riders remained in pit box to the end.

IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Takaaki Nakagami climbed up to provisional 4th place improving his own best on just his third lap of the session. However, he couldn’t have further improvement due to the rain and finished qualifying in 7th place. He will start tomorrow’s race from the 3rd row.

Malaysian rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman improved his own best dropping down 2’08 second, however he didn’t have another chance for the time attack and forced to go back to pit box. He will start tomorrow’s race from 5th row 15th position on the grid.

Tadayuki Okada (Team Manager)

As the weather condition was getting worse, Nakagami tried time attack from early stage of the qualifying session. We had a plan to challenge again the time attack in last 10 minutes, but because of the rain we could not complete it as we were planning. Azlan also was trying to secure higher position, but I am disappointed that he had to complete the session without having last chance for the time attack. I’m sure that tomorrow’s race will be so hard and tough for the higher temperature and sticky climate, but I really expect that both riders will show good performance.

#30 Takaaki Nakagami

I improved the time from Free Practice yesterday, but I couldn’t break the 2’07s which I aimed. I’m really disappointed for today’s result and got frustrated that the rain didn’t allow to me completed my challenge in last 10 min. It will be tough race tomorrow, but I try to make a good start and to push hard paying attention also on tire management.

#25 Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman

I had good feeling with machine and tire in qualifying and set the 2’07s shortening 0.8 second from yesterday. During my last attack it started raining. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t have further improvement. Tomorrow’s race will be difficult starting from 15th position, but I will do all my best to catch up rivals and battle in top group!